Archive for January, 2007

The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo prides itself on a varied and fresh entertainment lineup to bring back fans and lure new ones, and this year’s is one of the best.

“I think we have one of the strongest country lineups we’ve had in a long time,” entertainment director Derrick Adams said. “As far as superstars, none are bigger than Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson.

“They were not here last year so it’s neat it worked out they were able to come back.

“Gary Allan is always strong, and we’ve been trying to get Gretchen Wilson for several years. She’ll be a great Saturday matinee on the opening weekend with friends Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy that night.”

Also making debuts will be Trace Adkins, a veteran who’s been hitting home runs, and Josh Turner, a newcomer with a big voice.

On the Texas side, Willie Nelson will return, and Kevin Fowler â€” who was part of a premiere acoustic song swap last year â€” will headline his first rodeo show, kicking off the series tonight after the Xtreme Bulls competition.

“Plus we have a lot who wanted to come back, like Montgomery Gentry, Neal McCoy and Sugarland,” Adams said. “We don’t do the same lineup year-in and year-out, but there is a core group we’d love to have.”

One category the rodeo won’t have this year is a comedian, such as Bill Cosby, Bill Engvall or Jeff Foxworthy.

Seems it’s tough to find enough funnymen with a PG rating.

Here is a brief look at the schedule:

Kevin Fowler, 7 p.m., Feb. 1: The Texas honky-tonker is one of the few entertainers around who might be able to upstage the adrenaline rush of the Xtreme Bulls, which will kick off the rodeo. Fowler, known for such tunes as “Beer, Bait and Ammo,” which has been covered by George Jones, Sammy Kershaw and Mark Chesnutt, was part of the rodeo’s inaugural Stars of Texas Acoustic Showcase last year and proved he could win over the huge crowd in the AT&T Center.

Gary Allan, 7 p.m., Feb. 2: Steeped in the Bakersfield, hard-country sound, the California native played the rodeo last year and will return to bring hits such as “Best I Ever Had” and “Tough All Over” as well as his new single, “A Feelin’ Like That,” which already is a Top 20 tune. Allan delivers love and hurt with equal passion, punctuated with a convincing been-there, whiskey-gritty voice.

Gretchen Wilson, 1 p.m., Feb. 3: Rodeo officials have been trying to book Wilson for several seasons, and now she’s hooked up to debut on the same day as her pals Big & Rich. Wilson burst on the scene as one of the rowdiest female country singers around with her hit “Redneck Woman.” She proved she’s here to stay with more, such as “Here for the Party” and “All Jacked Up.”

Big & Rich featuring special guest Cowboy Troy, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4: Nashville’s offbeat duo are part circus sideshow, part rock, part country, part just about everything else and all about the song. They hit the ground running with “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and never looked back with their unique fusion of their many musical loves. And it helps that they’re both great songwriters, too. Cowboy Troy of Dallas, the world’s only country rapper, will return, too.

Bellamy Brothers, 1 p.m. Feb. 5: Howard and David Bellamy’s fan base, built on more than three decades of touring and recording, is one of the most loyal. So expect sing-alongs on classics such as “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me,” “Redneck Girl” and “Let Your Love Flow.” Brooks & Dunn may win the most awards as country’s best duo, but the Bellamys are the most successful.

Brooks & Dunn, 7 p.m. Feb. 6: The Country Music Association’s reigning duo of the year for the umpteenth time, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn missed the rodeo last year. They’ll be back with their hard-charging blend of rocking honky-tonk about everything from dirt roads and hot women to soulful ballads about love and faith. Expect a hit parade, from 1991’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and 2001’s “Only in America” to last year’s “Hillbilly Deluxe.”

Trace Adkins, 7 p.m. Feb. 7: The big Louisiana native has been cranking out hits for more than a decade, beginning with “Every Light in the House.” So it’s hard to believe this will be his debut performance at the rodeo. But it’ll be a great time to catch a performer as he races to the front of the pack with hit after hit, specializing in sexy, deep-voiced romps on “Hot Mama,” “Swing” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” his ode to backsides.

Aly & AJ, 7 p.m., Feb. 8: Giving something for the teens and younger to get excited about, the sister acting/singing duo of Aly & AJ will make their rodeo debut. On the acting side, they’ve been in a number of TV shows such as “General Hospital” but found fame with the Disney Channel in such films as “Cow Belles.” Their cover of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do You Believe in Magic,” which was in Disney’s “Now You See It,” scored big on Radio Disney, too.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7 p.m. Feb. 8: The iconic Southern rock band will return with some new tunes as well as all the hits, such as “Freebird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Three Steps” and “Simple Man.” Last year, the influential group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Sugarland, 7 p.m., Feb. 9: Here last year as a trio, Sugarland is back as a duo after the departure of singer/songwriter Kristen Hall. But with lead singer Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush still on board, Sugarland didn’t miss a step. Hall had a hand in writing every song on their debut CD, the multiplatinum “Twice the Speed of Life.” But Nettles and Bush wrote a bunch on the sophomore album, “Enjoy the Ride,” and it clicked, too, with tunes that include “Want To,” which rushed to No. 1 on the country charts.

Alan Jackson, 1 & 7:30 p.m., Feb. 10: A rodeo regular, Jackson wasn’t here last year but he’ll be back with double-barreled matinee and evening performances. The country traditionalist with a bag of hits including “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” “Gone Country,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Where I Come From” altered his honky-tonk formula with last year’s “Like Red on a Rose,” which was co-produced with bluegrass star Alison Krauss. It’s an intimate, cozy mix of songs better suited to a sofa and a warm fire than the tinkling glasses in a dance hall.

Josh Turner, 1 p.m. Feb. 11: The up-and-coming country crooner will make his rodeo debut with two albums under his belt and a memorable debut hit with 2003’s “Long Black Train.” Turner’s deep voice scored big on the gospel/blues song about redemption with haunting images of demons and death.

Intocable, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 11: Intocable rose to become one of the top regional Mexican bands on the touring circuit by spicing its traditional norteÃ±o/Tejano music with rock, pop, folk and country rhythms. The latest CD, “Crossroads,” includes South Austin Jug Band and country producer Lloyd Maines, among others, as guest musicians.

Willie Nelson, 7 p.m. Feb. 12: One of Texas’ most-beloved and iconic singer/songwriters â€” as well as country music’s, in general â€” will return to the rodeo with yet another album in the works (hey, he only released five on his own last year, including a tribute to hit songwriter Cindy Walker of Mexia, who died not long after it was out). This time it’s an unprecedented pairing of Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price on “Last of the Breed,” a 22-song, two-disc package of classics and new songs set for release on March 20. (more…)

There was a time when country music songs were about being a cowboy, drinking whiskey, and killing your wife — and times were good. Nowadays you find nary a song about wife-killing, and half the acts, with their popped collars and greasy hair, looked like primped-up city boys. Itâ€™s enough to make Hank Williams roll over in his grave. Then thereâ€™s Willie Nelson. At 73, country musicâ€™s elder statesman is a lot like your grandpa — assuming Gramps smokes a bunch of dope, and used to kick it with Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. Willieâ€™s still an old-school, long-haired, country music pseudo-hippie, and more importantly the traveling troubadour is still out on the road, where he belongs. Expect some outlaw country at its finest when Willie performs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Knight Concert Hall (1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). Tickets cost $45-$65. Call 305-949-6722, or visit www.carnivalcenter.org.

When asked about retirement, seventy-three-year old Willie Nelson says, “All I do is play music and golf â€“ which one do you want me to give up?”Â

With over 2500 published songs, 8 Grammy awards, a Presidential Merit Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award for unprecedented and genre-defying contributions to popular music over a fifty-year career under his belt, braids to his waist, wise eyes, and a deceptively youthful bounce in his step, the living legend, singer, songwriter, actor, activist, and author took the stage at Whitney Hall on July 12 and proved he still has what it takes to please a packed house. A few things had changed since the first time I saw him perform. The first time, I paid to park and the show was free. This time tickets ranged from $35.50 to $65.50. The first time I knew jeans and tee shirts were appropriate; this time I didn’t know whether to dress for the Kentucky Center, or Willie. I chose Willie.

The most impressive difference this time was Willie’s son, Lucas. Either of them would have been worth the price of the ticket alone. What they delivered together was priceless. Lucas not only has the music in him, he is the music. In contrast to his father’s gentle pull at the heartstrings through his trademark acoustic sound, the son shows no mercy as he attacks the blues on his electric guitar with the passion of a young Stevie Ray or B.B.

The connection between the two men found its way to my nosebleed seat. I felt privileged to witness what looked like a passing of the torch; Willie shared all he had with his son, and Lucas eagerly and skillfully soaked it up and poured it back to the audience.

The two things that had not changed over the years were Willie’s voice and sincerity. If he ever does decides to retire, I hope he gives up golf.

Thanks to Willie Fan Robbie, who got to go to the show, and shared the set list:

Whiskey River
Still Is Still Moving To Me
Funny How Time Slips Away
Crazy
Night Life
Down Yonder (Miss Bobbie solo)
Working Man Blues (Jody)
Help Me Make It Through The Night
A Moment Of Forever
Me and Paul
If You’ve Got The Money
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Blue Skies
Georgia
All Of Me
Stardust
Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies ……
Good Hearted Woman
Angel Flying Too Close Too The Ground
On The Road Again
Always On My Mind
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Amazing Grace
Non Cloudy Day
Back To Earth
Jumbalay
Hey Good Looking (What cha got cookin’)
Move It On Over
Teatro
It’s Always Now
ValentineÂ
I Gotta Get Over You Again
Pine Top Boogie Woogie (Miss Bobbie solo)
Superman
You Don’t Think I’m Funny Any More
Poncho and Lefty
I Saw The Light

Someone is selling this life-size cut-out of Willie on e-bay.Â I bid on it, but I didn’t meet the $125.00 minimum.Â I love it, but am trying to save up to see him live a few times, and had to pass on it.Â

When I first learned that these guys just got together in 2004, I frankly did not believe it.Â I got to see them play at Wille’s picnic in Ft. Worth the past couple of years, and each time was just blown away.Â I remember thinking how tight they sounded, and then to learn they had just formed their band that year — I was impressed.Â

I have had the opportunity to see Willie’s boys Lukas and Micah play with their dad quite a few times.Â It seemed like all of a sudden there they were, touring with their dad, in the summer usually, when school was out.Â Lukas on blues guitar gave me goosebumps when he and Willie playedÂ with Trigger on, “It’s Flooding Down in Texas,” or “Texas Flood,” whatever it’s called.

In 2004 when the boysÂ showed up with their own band at the Picnic a couple years ago, the fans were excited!Â (And it was like they had instant groupies, too, young girls who had never heard of them before that weekend were crazy about them.)Â Wille joined them forÂ the entire set, too, and that was such a treat.Â One of the nicest things about the picnic, of course, is seeing Willie play with all these other artists.

The boysÂ have changed their name a couple time; at their first picnic they were the Los Maui Boys, which seems appropriate, being from the Islands.Â But maybe it was too close to the Los Lonely Boys, andÂ maybe thereÂ they were playing the same show together one time, and is just hit them.Â I don’t know, I’m rambling.Â But now they go by Harmonic Tribe.Â

Their sound is very unique, a combination of genres, which might come from living on Maui, or from having a dad who plays everything, and plays it well.Â They have a bluesy/rock/reggae/funk/latin sound going, and it really works!Â Â Â

The band has already opened for Willie, UB40, Jack Johnson, The Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan, Los Lonely Boys and more.Â They recorded a song for the “Dukes of Hazzard 2″ movie, which is also the title song on theirÂ cd:Â The Awakening.

If you visit their myspace account, you can hear thisÂ song, and others from the album.Â Looking at theÂ song list, IÂ recognize the songs, and realizeÂ they sang these songs at the picnics.Â Â Â Awakening is hauntingly beauiful, and Willie is on that tract too, so Bonus!Â You can buy their cd online at www.cdbaby.com, for only $14.00 a realy bonus.Â There is probably a place to buy it and down load it to your ipod, but I don’t know about that.Â They probably give that information at their myspace.Â I don’t have this album yet, but I am going to, soon.

For more information about the band, tour information, etc.,Â visit their myspace at www.myspace.com/harmonictribeÂ for updates , bio, photos and more.Â Â And to buy the album, go to cdbaby.com, and search for them under harmonictribe.Â You are in for a treat.

THE aircraft-hangar proportions of Hall 4 at the SECC would not be the obvious first choice of venue for a rendezvous with the unshowy Willie Nelson. For the perennially laidback Nelson and his instinctively drilled musical family, though, size wasn’t an issue. Nelson’s warm, worn, conversational vocals invited the listener closer, so it felt as if he was only ever at arm’s length, rather than a figure to be squinted at from a distance.

Although Nelson famously never sings a song the same way twice, there was familiarity and comfort, even a degree of conservatism, to his bumper setlist, which all but ignored his most recent albums, including Songbird, his latest collaboration with Ryan Adams, in favour of standards such as Blue Skies, Georgia On My Mind, All of Me nd Stardust, which he could sing with his eyes closed (maybe he did – it was hard to tell from the back of the hall).

For all his enduring outlaw persona, the 73-year-old Nelson was at his most affecting on a succession of tender, open-hearted love songs such as Valentine and Kris Kristofferson’s A Moment of Forever. There was urgent shush-ing in the crowd, the better to contemplate Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, then total silence for his utterly penitent rendition of Always On My Mind, but the audience needed little encouragement to chorus softly on Amazing Grace. No surprises then, but much to soothe and delight.